Two Deoband students shot at in UP

Two students of Darul Uloom Deoband were shot at in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district by two gunmen when they were on their way to the institute, police said.

The incident took place Friday in Muzaffarnagar's Barla area when the students - Abu Azmi and Mohammad Mubarik - were on a mobike and the gunmen opened fire at them. Both the students were admitted to the Meerut medical college where their condition is serious, but out of danger.

Tension spread in the area when the news of the firing spread. Seminary authorities urged students not to be swayed by the incident and maintain peace.

Senior Superintendent of Police H.N. Singh said special teams of the district police were looking for the assailants.

Alleging the incident was an attempt to disrupt peace and harmony in the area, Darul Uloom Deoband's Public Relation Officer Ashraf Usmani slammed the attack and demanded immediate arrest of the attackers.

Additional security deployment was made in the area and around the institute, police said.

Muzaffarnagar witnessed one of the worst communal riots in September 2013 in which 63 people were killed and thousands were rendered homeless.